Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has begun using a new term, rashism, in its official discourse. The designation was reported by DEA News and subsequently published on the Rada’s own website. The declaration explains rashism as a fresh form of totalitarian ideology and practice that underpins the current political regime forming within the Russian Federation. The move signals a concerted effort to name and categorize what is perceived as a coercive political system tied to Moscow’s influence and expansionist rhetoric.
In the official record, 281 lawmakers from Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada voted in favor of the declaration, while 57 members chose to abstain from voting. The high level of support indicates a broad consensus among representatives on framing the situation in Russia as more than a nationalist conflict; it is described as an institutionalized and aggressive political project that affects regional stability and national security considerations for Ukraine and its neighbors. The declaration also emphasizes that rashism encompasses several core features observed by Ukrainian lawmakers, including militarism, the sanctification of state institutions, and the exaltation of Russia and Russians. These elements, the document argues, accompany violent repression and the denial of the existence or equality of other peoples, which are cited as indicators of this alleged system.
Among the authors listed for the draft are deputies affiliated with Ukraine’s governing party, Servant of the People. The legislative filing carries the full title: On the definition of the existing political regime in the Russian Federation as racistism and condemning its ideological foundations and social practices as totalitarian and anti-human. This wording positions the concept within a broader critique of what is perceived as a modern form of governance reinforced by specific social and political actions. The discussion around rashism in Ukrainian political circles reflects ongoing debates about how to label and respond to perceived threats emanating from the Russian state, particularly in the context of ongoing regional tensions and security concerns. The rhetoric aims to characterize the regime not merely as a foreign policy adversary but as an ideological and structural system that, in the Ukrainian view, contravenes fundamental human rights and democratic norms.
The idea of rashism has appeared in Ukrainian public discourse before, having been introduced in earlier versions of school history textbooks. The current move by the Rada builds on that prior usage, attempting to elevate the term to an official descriptor with clear political and legal implications. Supporters say the term helps consolidate Ukraine’s narrative about Russia’s political trajectory and clarifies the nature of the challenges Ukraine faces. Critics, however, may argue that such labeling can oversimplify the complexities of regional politics or contribute to broader geopolitical tensions. The ongoing conversation around rashism underscores how language is used as a tool in statecraft, shaping perceptions, informing policy, and guiding responses to aggression and coercion. It also illustrates how parliamentary acts connect historical memory with present-day strategic considerations, influencing international dialogue and alliance dynamics in North America and beyond.
In analyzing this development, observers note that the use of a term like rashism aligns with wider efforts to identify and assess threats in a defined political environment. The Ukrainian declaration distinguishes between the governance model described as racistism and the ideological foundations that support it, drawing a line between governmental structure, social practice, and human rights implications. This approach mirrors global debates on how democracies should respond when confronted with authoritarian behaviors that utilize state power to suppress dissent, polarize populations, and wage aggressive campaigns abroad. The interplay between domestic legislation and international interpretation is complex, and the rashism designation contributes to ongoing discussions about sanctions, defense collaboration, and regional security policies that affect the wider North American and European communities.